North Lancs/Cumbria: Storey try earns bonus point as Kirkby close on leaders (From The Westmorland Gazette)

North Lancs/Cumbria: Storey try earns bonus point as Kirkby close on leaders

10:17am Monday 30th January 2012 in Rugby By Patrick O'Kane, Senior News/Sport Reporter

North Lancs/Cumbria
Egremont 16
Kirkby Lonsdale 27
KIRKBY Lonsdale moved within four points of leaders Fleetwood with a battling 27-16 win at Egremont.

From the successful home fixture it was evident that Egremont based much of their play around a powerful pack and the fact that Kirkby were travelling without three first choice forwards lent an edge to the proceedings.

In the reshuffled Kirkby pack Jack Konczynski started at hooker, Dan Teasdale came in to the second row with John Ladell starting at six and Craig Galbraith moving to eight.

Although boggy underfoot Kirkby kicked off in bright and windless conditions maintaining a period of play in home territory and having several thrusts at the line.

Egremont held out though and on their first visit into Kirkby territory some ten minutes into the game were awarded a scrum, which resulted in them kicking the first points for a 3-0 lead.

The hosts soon doubled their lead and it took some 20 minutes before Kirkby got the first whistle in their favour.

Jack Akrigg banged the ball into touch on the home 22 and although Egremont did their best to interrupt the lineout Kirkby held their throw and drove for the line.

The home pack resisted so Kirkby went open with full back Robert Horsefall entering the line and he grounded the ball, with Chris Ramwell converting for a 7-6 lead.

Kirkby frustration boiled over a bit at a lineout deep in the Egremont half when hooker Jack Konczynski spotted number eight Craig Galbraith unmarked.

Konnczynski spun a dead straight pass and Galbraith ran off to score, but the ref brought play back and when Kirkby prop, Tim Groves, raised an eyebrow in question, he was sent to the bin for dissent.

Egremont were unable to take advantage and Kirkby led 7-6 at the break.

Kirkby had their guns blazing for the second half and the backs began to find space and form.

Horsefall saw an opportunity to put a difficult kick behind the Egremont defence and eft wing Josh Pewsey's speed put the cover defence under pressure before crossing the line for the second Kirkby try.

The conversion failed but the lead was extended when right wing Chris Ramwell crossed and converted his own try to take the score to 19-6.

A mistake in defence gave Egremont a scrum mid way in the Kirkby half and they worked the ball toward the Kirkby line in a succession of pick and drives and rolling mauls, and they eventually got the ball down under the posts, converting to narrow the gap to 19-13.

In the final quarter, fitness and youth began to tell as Kirkby stretched the Egremont defence. Ramwell kicked a penalty to move to 22-13 before stand off Nathan Wooff had to leave the field with injury.

Livewire flanker Stuart Storey struck the killer blow late on with when he outpaced the cover to score in the corner for a bonus point try.

Egremont kicked a penalty but it made no difference to the result as Kirkby won 27-16, while Fleetwood lost 22-0 at home to Eccles.